Transcription through a simple DNA repeat blocks replication elongation

Maria M. Krasilnikova, George M.samadashwily, Andrey S. Krasilnikov, Sergei M. Mirkin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

77 Scopus citations

Abstract

The influence of d(G)(n)·d(C)(n) repeats on plasmid replication in Escherichia coli cells was analyzed using electrophoretic analysis of replication intermediates. These repeats impeded the replication fork in a length- and orientation-dependent manner. Unexpectedly, the replication arrest relied primarily on the repeats' transcription. When the d(C)(n) sequence served as the transcriptional template, both transcription and replication were blocked. This was true for transcription driven by either bacterial or phage RNA polymerases. We hypothesize that the replication fork halts after it encounters a stalled ternary complex of the RNA polymerase, the DNA template and the r(G)(n) transcript. This constitutes a novel mechanism for the regulation of replication elongation. The effects of this mechanism on repeat length polymorphism and genome rearrangements are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5095-5102
Number of pages8
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume17
Issue number17
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 1998

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Immunology and Microbiology

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